A boy sat under a tree.
His body felt broken.
Breathing itself felt heavy—
like every breath had to be forced out of him.
---
The place around him looked like a graveyard—
No…
More like a dump.
---
Nothing alive.
Nothing worth looking at.
---
Even the ground felt tired.
Like it had already given up on everything.
---
In his hand—
he held a sharp piece of glass.
---
He stared at it.
Quietly.
---
Is this time to go?
---
Is this finally time…
to meet them?
---
His eyes slowly moved upward—
towards the empty sky.
---
No clouds.
No birds.
No color.
---
Just emptiness.
---
"Hey…"
His voice came out dry.
Broken.
---
"How is it there… everyone…"
---
A faint smile appeared.
---
"Looks like… I'm coming too…"
---
His grip tightened slightly.
---
His eyes began to close.
---
His body loosened—
like it had finally decided to stop fighting.
---
—
---
A voice.
---
"RUN!"
---
"RUN! RUN!"
---
"RUNNN!!"
---
A woman's scream tore through his mind—
not from outside…
but from inside.
---
His eyes snapped open.
---
His body jerked forward—
like something refused to let him fall.
---
Silence returned.
---
The boy slowly stood up.
---
A small smile formed on his lips.
---
"So…"
---
"You put a curse on me… didn't you…"
---
His voice wasn't angry.
Not fully.
---
But it wasn't calm either.
---
Something in between.
---
He looked at the broken glass in his hand.
---
Then—
turned away.
---
"I can't even die properly."
---
He let it fall.
---
The glass hit the ground—
a dull sound.
---
He didn't look back.
---
He started walking.
---
Each step—
heavier than the last.
---
His heartbeat dragged—
slow.
Weak.
---
Like it didn't want to continue.
---
But a thought rose inside him—
quiet…
but firm.
---
I will live.
---
No matter what…
in this cursed place.
---
An image flashed in his mind—
---
A woman.
---
Screaming.
---
Holding someone—
her voice breaking as she shouted—
---
"Don't look back!"
---
"RUN!"
---
His teeth clenched.
---
Silence.
---
Only anger remained on his face.
---
—
---
The smell hit him first.
---
Food.
---
Warm.
Fresh.
---
Then—
voices.
---
Laughter.
---
Light.
Carefree.
---
He had reached a place where people walked freely…
smiling…
talking…
living…
---
As if the world wasn't broken at all.
---
They didn't look rich.
---
But they looked…
alive.
---
That alone—
felt foreign to him.
---
—
---
He moved away from the crowd.
---
To a narrow path.
---
A place he knew.
---
A place where fewer people passed.
---
A place where people didn't look closely.
---
He hid.
---
Waited.
---
Time passed.
---
Then—
footsteps.
---
Two shadows approached.
---
The boy moved.
---
He jumped out.
---
The shard of glass pointed forward.
---
"Stop."
---
In front of him—
stood a man and a woman.
---
Well-dressed.
Calm.
---
Not afraid.
---
"Ah…"
The woman tilted her head slightly.
---
"Where did this child come from?"
---
The man looked at him.
---
His gaze steady.
---
"Boy."
---
"Drop that."
---
The boy smirked.
---
"So you can beat me?"
---
His grip tightened.
---
"Give me food…"
---
"Just give it…"
---
"Or I'll—"
---
His voice faltered.
---
Just for a second.
---
"I'll hurt you."
---
The man raised a finger.
---
"Look at your hand first."
---
The boy glanced down.
---
Blood.
---
Thick.
Fresh.
Dripping.
---
For a moment—
he froze.
---
Pain rushed back.
---
But no.
---
He couldn't lose this.
---
Not now.
---
"So you see it?"
He forced a grin.
---
"This can hurt."
---
His voice hardened.
---
"So give me what I asked."
---
The woman stepped forward slightly.
---
"Your hands… they're bleeding."
---
"We need to—"
---
"I'm not stupid!"
---
He snapped.
---
Stepping back.
---
"Don't come closer!"
---
Inside—
his body screamed.
---
Pain burned through his hands.
---
His muscles trembled.
---
He wanted to scream.
---
But he didn't.
---
This is nothing…
---
Nothing compared to what's coming…
---
The woman slowly lowered herself.
---
From her basket—
she took out a large piece of bread.
---
"Let's make a deal," she said gently.
---
"You drop that…"
---
"And come here."
---
"We'll help you."
---
She extended the bread.
---
"Then this is—"
---
Before she could finish—
---
The boy moved.
---
The glass dropped.
---
His body lunged forward.
---
He snatched the bread—
---
And ran.
---
—
---
The woman stood frozen.
---
For a second.
---
Then she stepped forward—
---
A hand stopped her.
---
"My lady."
---
The man's voice remained calm.
---
"But—he needs help!"
---
"That boy…"
---
The man said quietly—
eyes following the running figure—
---
"…won't die so easily."
---
His gaze sharpened slightly.
---
"His will to live…"
---
"is stronger than those who seek help."
---
She looked at him.
---
Confused.
---
"He's just a child…"
---
"Child or adult… it doesn't matter."
---
"When it comes to survival…"
---
"They're the same."
---
A pause.
---
"If I'm right…"
---
"You'll meet him again."
---
She lowered her eyes.
---
She didn't understand.
---
But she felt something—
heavy.
---
"Let's go."
---
"We have our own matters."
---
She looked at the boy one last time—
---
As he disappeared.
---
—
---
The boy ran.
---
His breath tore through his chest.
---
His hands burned.
---
Each step—
heavier.
---
His heartbeat—
slowing.
---
Fading.
---
Still—
he didn't stop.
---
—
---
He reached the tree.
---
Finally.
---
He stopped.
---
Looked at his hands.
---
Covered in blood.
---
Thick.
Dark.
---
He didn't sit.
---
Didn't think.
---
He devoured the bread.
---
Fast.
Desperate.
---
The taste of iron filled his mouth.
---
He choked.
---
Coughed.
---
Looked around.
---
Water.
---
Nothing.
---
His eyes fell—
on his hands.
---
Blood.
---
—
---
The bread dropped.
---
He stared.
---
Hesitated.
---
Just for a second.
---
Then—
---
He raised his hand.
---
To his mouth.
---
And squeezed.
---
Pain exploded through his body.
---
Sharper.
Deeper.
---
His teeth clenched.
---
Blood flowed.
---
He drank.
---
Desperately.
---
Until—
he could breathe again.
---
—
---
He collapsed.
---
The ground felt cold.
---
Heavy.
---
Still—
his hand reached for the bread.
---
Slowly.
---
He kept eating.
---
Even as his vision blurred.
---
Even as everything faded.
---
—
---
Looks like…
I'm about to die…
---
A small smile appeared.
---
"Even your curse…"
---
"wasn't enough… to keep me alive…"
---
A whisper.
---
"Sis…"
---
—
---
Memories.
---
Flashing.
---
Faces.
Voices.
---
Gone.
Gone.
Gone.
---
—
---
Then—
---
Warmth.
---
—
---
A small boy sat surrounded by people.
---
Laughter.
---
A birthday.
---
A little girl clapping.
---
And in front of him—
---
A girl.
---
Black hair.
---
A red and black dress.
---
Like blood on a devil.
---
But beautiful.
---
She smiled.
---
"Make a wish, little brother."
---
The boy closed his eyes.
---
This is enough…
---
I am satisfied…
---
I am happy.
---
—
---
He blew the candles.
---
The flame went out.
---
—
---
Not the candle.
---
His life.
---
—
---
His heart stopped.
---
A smile remained.
---
Peaceful.
---
Like he had finally reached something—
he was chasing.
---
—
---
A soft wind passed.
---
Dry leaves lifted.
---
And scattered.
---
Then—
---
One green leaf fell.
---
Alone.
---
Carried by the wind.
---
Far away.